The Federal Government on Tuesday filed a five-count charge against activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, for labeling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a post shared on social media.
The charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. M. B. Abubakar, alleges that Sowore’s post constituted false accusations punishable under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as Sections 59 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
The two social media platforms where the post appeared—X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Incorp (Facebook)—were also cited as second and third defendants in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025.
Sowore’s post on August 25 followed President Tinubu’s official visit to Brazil, where he stated that his administration had successfully eradicated corruption in Nigeria. In response, the Department of State Services (DSS) wrote to X and Meta, requesting that Sowore’s accounts be suspended and the post removed. The DSS also asked Sowore directly to delete the post from all platforms.
The Federal Government’s charges appear to stem from Sowore and the platforms’ refusal to comply with the DSS requests. According to the FG, the post was intended to provoke a breakdown of law and order and to tarnish President Tinubu’s reputation.
Evidence cited in the case includes printouts of Sowore’s posts on X and Facebook, as well as DSS letters to the platforms.
Some counts from the charge read:
- “That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X Handle page, @Yele Sowore, to send out a message: ‘THIS CRIMINAL @OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY,’ which you knew to be false but posted to cause a breakdown of law and order, especially among individuals with divergent views on the President, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”
- “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on or about the 26th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your official Facebook page to post a similar statement with the same intent and unlawfulness, contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes Act.”
- “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, via your official X account @Yele Sowore, knowingly published defamatory material against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.”
No date has been set for the defendants to be arraigned.
